Elyanna is ready to present herself (and her heritage) to the world.
On Thursday, the Palestinian Chilean musician (who Rolling Stone named one of music’s Future 25 last year) announced that she’ll release her debut album Woledto, which translates to “I am born,” on April 12.
“This album is my debut and it lives in its own world,” she tells Rolling Stone. “Despite being my first, it is a rebirth of myself while serving as the unveiling of Elyanna. It’s something I’ve never heard before, yet it feels nostalgic.”
“To me, this album is a journey through identity, love, rage, and feminism,” she adds. “Every lyric, every beat, and every melody has so much intention… It’s a free experimental project that I always wanted to do but wanted to wait until I was ready, and now that it’s time, I’m proud to announce it. It’s only the start of my journey.”
Her Latina and Palestinian heritage inspired the album, which includes a song alongside her grandfather, a Zajal singer and poet. “How beautiful it is to combine traditions and culture with the modern world,” she says. “There are so many elements of my home Nazareth, Palestine that represent me as an artist and are a part of me showing through in my music, shows and fashion sense.”
Elyanna will celebrate the album’s release with two special shows: one at Los Angeles’ Wiltern on April 27 and another at London’s Koko on May 6. She went on a tour earlier this year, where she says she felt a strong community with the audience: “People came fully on theme with coins, kuffiya, bandanas… The bond and connection you build with fans and then being able to perform for them is different and nothing feels as rewarding as that to me.”
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The album announcement follows her single alongside Sevdaliza, “Good Torture.” She dropped songs “Mama Eh” and “Sokkar” last year and released a 7-track EP titled Elyanna 2 in 2022.
Last year, she described her debut project as “spidery,” with cool and edgy beats that are anything but safe. “I am creating my own box,” she told Rolling Stone. “I want to introduce a new culture, sound, and language. I mean, that’s the whole point.”